A
Barbara Morgan’s life-long dream has always been to travel into space.On August 8,2007,her wish came true.The former teacher was one of seven crewmembers on the Space Shuttle (航天飞机)Endeavour,which flew into space from NASA’s Kennedy Space Station in Florida.
Morgan taught at a primary school in Boise from 1975 to 1998—with some time off for astronaut (宇航员)training.In 1985,she was chosen as a backup for Christa McAuliffe,who was to be the first teacher in space.On January 28,1986,the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded(爆炸)just 73 seconds after take-off killing McAuliffe and the other six crewmembers.
After the Challenger accident,Morgan continued to teach.In 1998,she was asked to become an astronaut.Morgan’s mission aboard Endeavour includes overseeing the move of 5,000 pounds of goods from the shuttle to the International Space Station and operating the shuttle’s robotic arm.
Morgan gave students an unusual class after she was in space.Morgan’s out-of-this-world class was broadcast live on NASA television.Her husband Clay Morgan said he couldn’t help but smile as he watched her talk to students.“I’m just so proud of her and how she’s going to do all this and do the work of an astronaut as well as a teacher,” he said.“She just kept telling me how unbelievable it was to be in space and I think it’s much better than she expected.” One student asked Morgan how being a teacher compared to being an astronaut.“We explore,we discover and we share,” she said.“The great thing about being a teacher is that you get to do things with students,and the great thing about being an astronaut is that you get to do them in space;these are both wonderful jobs.”
The 25 minutes question-and-answer meeting also included the astronauts entertaining(使欢乐)students by swallowing floating juice bubbles and playing with ping-pong balls.
21.The underlined word in the second paragraph most probably means “ ”.
A.someone as a replacement
B.someone as a volunteer
C.someone as a teacher
D.someone as a supporter
答案:A
解析:词义猜测题。从下文可知,1986年1月28日“挑战者号”航天飞机在起飞73秒后爆炸,使得前飞行员兼教师克里斯塔·麦考利芙和其他六名机组人员全部遇难。所以这句话的意思是:“1985年,她就是作为克里斯塔·麦考利芙的后备人员被选中的”。故选A项。
22.What can we learn from what Barbara Morgan said to a student in Paragraph 4?
A.Getting to do with students is much greater.
B.Being a teacher is as great as being an astronaut.
C.An astronaut’s life is more wonderful.
D.Being a teacher is quite different from being an astronaut.
答案:B
解析:推理判断题。由第四段最后一句可知,她说:“当老师是和学生打交道,这是很好的事情;当宇航员和太空打交道,也是一件很好的事情。它们都是很好的工作。”故选B项。
23.Clay Morgan’s attitude towards his wife’s being an astronaut was that of .
A.surprise B.pride
C.unconcern D.worry
答案:B
解析:推理判断题。从第四段中的“hecouldn’thelpbutsmile”和“I’mjustsoproudofher”可知B项正确。
24.Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
A.The First Female Astronaut
B.Space Shuttle Endeavour
C.An Unusual Class
D.Barbara Morgan’s Long-life Dream
答案:C
解析:主旨大意题。本文主要介绍的是美国女教师巴巴拉·摩根给学生们上的一节课,故C项最合适。
